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2 Sh eet sSheet 1. F. W. DURHAM & J. D. CHURCHILL. APPARATUS FOR EPFEGTING INTERMITTENT ACTION OF FOG AND OTHER SIGNALS.

No. 336,041. Patented Feb. 9, 1886.

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(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

F. W. DURHAM & J. D. CHURCHILL. APPARATUS FOR EPPEGTING INTERMITTENT AOTION OF FOG AND OTHER SIGNALS.

No. 336,041. Patented Feb. 9, 1886.

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w w 'Z W g? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK VILLIAM DURHAM AND JAMES DIXON CHURCHILL, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING INTERMITTENT ACTION OF FOG AND OTHER SIGNALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,041, dated February 9, 1886v Application filed July 10, 1884. Serial No. 137,360.

(No model.) Patented in England December 31, 1983, No. 5.966.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK WILLIAM DURHAM and J AMES DIXON CHURCHILL, cit izens of England, both residing at Leadenhall Street, in the city of London, England, have invented new or Improved Apparatus for Effecting Intermittent Action of Fog and other Signals, (for which we have obtained a Patent in Great Britain, No. 5,966, dated December 31, 1883,) of which the following is a specification.

It is usual to provide in steam-vessels audible fog-signals, which are sounded at regular intervals, but variable at pleasure.

; Our invention relates to means of effecting automatically the intermittent action of such signals, the apparatus which we employ for this purpose being so arranged that the intervalbetween successive signals and the duration of each signal can be varied as desired.

\Ve will describe this apparatus, referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 beingasectional plan of the two steam-cylinders and the cataract-cylinder which we employ, and Fig. 2 being a side view of the cataractcylinder with the cover of its valve-box re moved.

A is a cylinder having a slide-valve, B, which alternates the admission and emission of steam at each end of the cylinder, this slide being worked by the steam-pressure in the manner similar to that employed in several kinds of direct-acting pumping-engines. The piston of the cylinder A is directly connected with the piston of a cataract-cylinder, C, which is charged with water, oil, or other suitable liquid. The two ends of the cataractcylinder 0 communicate with each other by passages governed by a valve, D, and a plug, F, having a slit, E, the opening of each of which can be regulated byascrew, so that the strokes of the cataract-piston can be timed as desired, the stroke in either direction being made to occupy a longer or shorter period, according as the communicating passage is more or less throttlcd by the adjustment of the valve and slit.

The passages referred to, as illustrated, are, in connection with the valve-box J, shown as attached to the side of the cataract-cylinder and communicating with the end of the cy1 inder through the channels indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The valve-boX J is divided into an upper and a lower chamber by a partition, I, which has two openings,one for the valve D and the other for the plug F. The plug F is formed with screw threads, so as to be raised and lowered to regulate the extent of the slit-opening for the passage of the liquid, and adj listing-screw D regulates the extent of play of valve D, against the top of which the screw will hear. I

Each end of a third cylinder, G, communicates with an end of the cylinder A, and this cylinder is fitted with a piston, the rod H of which is connected by a cord, chain, or rod to the stop cook or valve (not shown) that governs the passage to a steam horn or whistle. The piston of the cylinder G is preferably provided with buffer-springs K, to lessen the shock at each end of its stroke.

The action of the apparatus is as follows: Steam being admitted to the slide-case of the cylinder A, and the slide being, if necessary, shifted toward one end of its stroke by means of a pushing-arm, a, worked by an external handle, the steam passes to one end of the cylinder A, and also to the corresponding end of the cylinder G, causing the piston of the latter to move rapidly to the one end or the other of its stroke, and so as to open or close the passage to the alarm. While the piston of cylinder G is maintained by the steampressure at the end of its stroke,the piston of cylinder A makes its stroke more or less slowly, as determined by the resistance offered to the movement of the cataract-piston due to the adj ustment of the cataractyalves. As the piston of cylinder A completes its stroke, it strikes against and opens the valve 1) at the end of the cylinder, thus permitting the escape of steam, relieving the pressure on the piston at one end of the slide-case, whereupon the slide is shifted and the pistons of cylinders G and A, respectively, have their movements reversed, the former rapidly and the latter at the rate, more or less slow, determined by the adjustment of the cataract-valve which governs the speed of this stroke.

Obviously by extending the space between the cylinders A and G and providing suitable tappets on the rod which connects their pistons the slide B may be worked by these tappets, as, for instance,in the ordinary, Cameron Steam-Pump; also,the piston-rod H, instead of being connected to the cook or valve of an audible alarm-signal, might be connected to the screens or colored glasses of lantern-lights, so as to give or alternate visible signals.

In cases where the backward and forward strokes of the cataract-piston may be of equal duration, the adjustable slit E Wouldsuffice to regulate that duration; but as it is usually permitted by its adjusting-screw.

necessary to give a signal for a very short time, and to have a considerable interval between successive signals, we add the valve D, togive regulated passage for theliquid in the one directiomin addition to that given by the hand stroke being slowly made would then determine the interval between successive signals, and the more rapid right-hand stroke would determine the duration of the signal 30 itself.

Having thus described the nature of our invention and the best means we know for carrying the same into practical effect, we claim- The combination of the steam-cylinder A, its piston, the movable slide-valve B, the cataract-cylinder 0, having its ends in communication, the adjustable valve or valves controlling the communication between the ends 40 of the cataract-cylinder, the cylinder G, supported upon and in communication with the opposite ends of the steam-cylinder A, a piston in said cylinder G, and a rod attached to such piston for connecting with-a signal, sub 45 stantially as described.

In testimony whereof we'have signed our names to this specification, in the presence-of two subscribing witnesses, this 25th day of June, A. D 1884.

FREDERICK WILLIAM DURHAM.- JAMES DIXON CHURCHILL. Witnesses:

J. WATT, THOMAS LAKE,

Both of 17 Gracechurch St, London. 

